Published: October 05, 2008 06:50 pm            

No. 21 Cowboys capitalize on five first-half turnovers, defeat Texas A&M, 56-28

With the offense lagging in the first half, Oklahoma State’s defense and special teams picked up the scoring role against Texas A&M.

With three non-offensive touchdowns in the first half, the No. 21 Cowboys flattened the Aggies, 56-28, Saturday night in front of 51,147 fans at Boone Pickens Stadium.

Early in the first quarter, OSU senior Jacob Lacey stripped the football from the Aggies’ grasp, and sophomore Ugo Chinasa’s fumble recovery led to A&M stopping OSU within inches of its first TD on fourth-and-goal.

Before A&M could escape its own 10-yard line, Chinasa decided to take the TD into his own hands when he intercepted a pass at the six-yard line, running at full speed straight into the end zone.

Also in the first half, sophomore Dez Bryant returned an Aggie punt for a 78-yard TD, and junior Patrick Lavine intercepted a pass just outside A&M’s 20-yard line to score with 1:51 left in the second quarter.

Lavine said the offense is bound to have off-days, which is why the defense and special teams are there, and it works both ways.

“It’s just a good feeling that we’re able to make it up on special teams as well as defense,” he said. “We’re also going to have our days, and they’re going to pick up our slack. That just tells you how good of a team we’re becoming.”

Coach Mike Gundy said the defense has progressed by leaps and bounds.

“You have to give a lot of credit to coach (Tim) Beckman and the defensive staff,” he added. “They’ve stayed the course. I think in my opinion in coaching, you decide what your scheme and plan are and you stay the course, so the players can believe in you. You get them to play hard and bring in guys who fit the system.”

Gundy also nodded to special teams and his coaching staff for the impact they had on the contest.

“Special teams has become such a big part of college football today because there are so many skilled guys on the perimeter that can make big plays,” Gundy added. “Our players really stepped up and met the challenge because Texas A&M had been really good on special teams.”

Co-offensive coordinator Gunter Brewer said appreciation is in order for the defense, which supported a lacking offense in the first half, but the offense should be commended for finishing the game strong.

“You have to give a lot of credit to our defensive staff,” he said. “They were able to create some turnovers and do some things. … To have a win like this and have offensive mistakes is a credit to (the offense) digging deep and coming back in the second half.”

In the only offensive score in the first half, junior Zac Robinson threw a 29-yard TD pass to Bryant, who stiff-armed his way through an Aggie and into the end zone for OSU’s second TD at the 3:58 mark of the first quarter.

A&M prevented a shutout in the first quarter when junior running back Mike Goodson slipped through Cowboy defenders, rushing 80 yards for the Aggies’ first score.

In the third quarter, Bryant caught another TD pass for 23 yards, and Bailey's extra point extended OSU's lead to 35-7 at the 11:30 mark. A&M opened the fourth quarter with Goodson’s second TD, an 11-yard run at the 14:04 mark.

OSU junior Perish Cox answered with a 57-yard kickoff return, which led to Bryant’s 21-yard reception, his third TD. Looking to leave an OSU note in the air at the end of the game, Robinson rushed one last time for a seven-yard TD at the 1:48 mark.

As is becoming the norm, sophomore Dan Bailey kicked eight flawless extra points.

The Cowboys’ toughest test yet comes next Saturday when it visits No. 4 Missouri in a 7 p.m. game that will be nationally televised.

        

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